Simon Green aka Bonobo returns to new sonic wonder with his fourth and most eagerly anticipated album Black Sands. Joining a devotion for exploring electro music with live instrumentation (most of which he plays himself) each track feels like it’s been painstakingly thought through. The result being his best and most progressive album far surpassing the realms of expectation.

Since his previous and most successful to date release Days to Come you wonder how Ninja Tunes biggest artist could ever answer his fans. But opening with an oriental string ‘Prelude’, which carries us into the minimal looping splendor of ‘Kaira’ it’s immediately clear we are in for something special.

Andreya Triana is the only collaboration on the album and her tracks stand out for all the right reasons. Xylophone lead ‘The Keeper’ and ‘Stay the Same’ are on point simplicity, while reverberative and lead single ‘Eye’s Down’ leans on Flying Lotus’ discovery in ‘Tea Leaf Dancer’; that Andreya’s voice blesses as much an electro beat as it does an acoustic one. It’s a single that is key along with breathtaking ‘All in Forms‘ in making an overall record that touches your inner feelings, breaking down even those with the biggest emotional guard.

Bonobo’s music can fulfill many musical tastes and from the cinematic direction of his production it’s no wonder his music has numerously been used as the backdrop for many visual artistry. Take the beautiful closing and title track ‘Black Sands’ for example. Best suited as a soundtrack to an independent film based in an old French countryside it’s both moving and pensive. A dominant mandolin (or maybe it’s a ukulele) is joined with a swaying clarinet and sleepy trumpet building and building an emotional climax which produces nearly 7 minutes of music worthy of an Oscar. Awe-inspiring!

Words Ali Raymond
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